Naoki dashes through the city streets of Iceward, the guards hot on her tail, tightly gripping the gold statuette she stole from some pompous noble asshole. She grins with excitement, this was her favorite part: getting away with it. She deftly dodges the countless civilians wandering the area and makes a quick turn down an alleyway. The clattering of metal and the sound of footsteps pounding against the cobblestone echoes throughout, making it clear the guards were gaining on her. Her heart races with adrenaline as she darts around a corner, only to crash straight into Du.
"Shit, sorry!" Naoki says apologetically, feeling her face flush with heat as she realizes the guards are closing in fast. Without hesitation, she grabs onto Du's arm, pulling them close. "Listen, I need you to cover for me. Help me get these guards off my ass." Without further explanation, she dives into a nearby haystack, sending hay flying everywhere.
Soon after, a group of three guards comes around the same corner Naoki emerged from. They're clearly not with the city, adorned with expensive armor and the crest of a noble house, implying their some noble's personal bodyguard. They spot Du immediately, questioning them about Naoki's whereabouts. "Where did that little shit go?" one says, panting exhaustedly.
